Keyboard assembly for organ

ABSTRACT

An electronic organ having a piano-type keyboard for playing tones and a button region for playing chords or the like, which is economical to manufacture. The keyboard includes lever-type keys that have recesses in their bottom walls for dropping onto a long thin bar to provide a pivotal mounting, and the organ housing having fingers between groups of twelve keys to limit sideward shifting of the keys. The button region includes a sheet of resilient electrically conductive material with tabs formed therein that are bent to an upward incline, a circuit board with contacts positioned below the tabs, and buttons that can be manually depressed to pushed selected tabs against contacts of the circuit board.

Groves et al.

[451 Aug. 7, 1973 1 KEYBOARD ASSEMBLY FOR ORGAN [75] Inventors: SydneyL. Groves, Redondo Beach;

Harvey W. La Branche, Palos Verdes Peninsula; Stanley Cutler, Van Nuys,all of Calif.

[73] Assignee: Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif.

[22] Filed: Nov. 3, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 303,460

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 98,369, Dec.15, 1970,

abandoned.

52 u.s.c| 84/423, 84/l.01,84/433 51 Int. Cl ..Gl0c3/l2 [58] FieldotSearch 84/l.01,l.l7,DlG.7, 84/423, 432-441 [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,049,616 8/1936 Lilja ..84/l.l7

2,470,148 5/1949 Demuth 84/423 2,785,238 3/1957 Bissonette et a1 84/4233,060,784 10/1962 Holt 84/423 3,420,131 1/1969 Thomas et al. 84/423 XPrimary Examiner-Richard W. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-U. WeldonAttorney-Seymour A. Scholnick [57] ABSTRACT An electronic organ having apiano-type keyboard for playing tones and a button region for playingchords or the like, which is economical to manufacture. The keyboardincludes lever-type keys that have recesses in their bottom walls fordropping onto a long thin bar to provide a pivotal mounting, and theorgan housing having fingers between groups of twelve keys to limitsideward shifting of the keys. The button region includes a sheet ofresilient electrically conductive material with tabs formed therein thatare bent to an upward incline, a circuit board with contacts positionedbelow the tabs, and buttons that can be manually depressed to pushedselected tabs against contacts of the circuit board.

5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures KEYBOARD ASSEMBLY FOR ORGAN This is acontinuation, of application Ser. No. 98,3 69, filed Dec. 15, 1970 nowabandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to electronic organs.

2. Description of the Prior Art Electronic organs typically include alarge number of tone generators that generate electrical signalsrepresenting sounds to be played, an amplifier and loudspeakerarrangement for producing audible sounds, and manually operated switchesfor selectively connecting the tone generators to the amplifier. Theswitching arrangement typically includes a piano-like keyboard forcoupling sounds representing single tones to the amplifier and a buttonregion where sounds representing chords or the like are coupled to theamplifier. Inasmuch as a large number of manually operated switches mustbe included, an organ construction which provided for simple and easyinstalled switches would enable economical production and pricing of theorgans.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present inventionis to provide an organ keyboard which utilizes a minimum number ofparts, and which can be rapidly assembled.

Another object is to provide an electronic organ which is reliable andeconomical.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, anelectronic organ is provided which includes a piano-type keyboard andbutton switch section, both of which utilize a minimum number of partsand are easy to install. The piano-type keyboard section includes keyswhich are molded with recesses on their bottom walls for receiving apivot bar that pivotally supportsthem on the organ housing, and whichare molded with protuberances on one side wall for spacing each key fromthe next succeeding key. The keys can be installed by merely droppingthem over a long pivot bar mounted on the organ, instead ofnecessitating the projection of a shaft through the keys. Severalfingers are mounted on the organ housing beside every twelfth key, toprevent excessive sideward shifting of the keys.

The bottom section where buttons are depressed to play chords or thelike, includes a bus sheet constructed of resilient electricallyconductive material. Tabs are formed in the sheet and are bent to extendwith an upward incline. A circuit board is provided with contactspositioned below the tabs of the bus sheet, so that the depression of atab establishes electrical contact between the bus sheet and the circuitboard contact. Each of the manually depressible buttons rests upon oneof the tabs to eliminate the need for a spring for each button to biasit upwardly.

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity inthe appended claims. The invention will be best understood from thefollowing description when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a partial perspective,partial block diagram of an electronic organ constructed in accordancewith the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the key and electrical contactof FIG. 2;

FIG. 4A is a partial sectional view showing the manner of installationof a key in the organ of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view taken on the line s s of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the button region of the organof FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates a portion ofan electronic organ, which includes a housing 10 with a piano-typekeyboard 12 that is played to produce tones of particular pitches and abutton section 14 that is used to play chords or other special sounds.The organ includes a signal generating apparatus 15 for generatingelectrical signals representing sounds to be played, the apparatusgenerally including a tone generating section 16 for generating tones ofparticular pitches and a chord generating section 18 for generatingchords, rhythmic or accompaniment patterns or other special sounds. Awide variety of devices are available for generating signals, includingoptical discs with prerecorded sounds thereon that are played by shininglight through tracks of the disc. Signals generated by the signalgenerating apparatus 15 are delivered to switches actuated by keys ofthe keyboard 12 and buttons of the button section 14.

When one of the keys at 12 or buttons at 14 is depressed, an electricalsignal representing a particular tone or chord pattern is delivered toan amplifier 20 which amplifies the signal and delivers it to aloudspeaker 22 to produce an audible sound. While most organs utilize -akeyboard and button arrangement which are part of a complete organ, thekeyboard and buttons may be a separate unit used with an independentsignal generator and an independent amplifier and loudspeakerarrangement. In any case, alarge number of independently operable keysand buttons must be provided, and a construction which simplifies themanual switching apparatus provided by the keyboard and buttonarrangement can significantly reduce the cost of an organ.

As shown in FIG. 2, 3 and 4, each key 24 of thekeyboard is an elongatedmember with a forward portion 26 whose upper surface is depressed by amusician, and a rearwardportion 28 which can move a pair of electricalcontacts 30, 32 together. The key has a pair of side walls 34, 36, anupper wall 38 and a lower surface 40. The entire key can be formed in asingle injection molding. In order to enable pivotal mounting of the keyon the organ housing 10, a pair of recesses 42, 43 is formed in thebottom 40 of the key, the recesses extending into the side walls 34, 36.An elongated bar 44 which is mounted on the housing I0, has anupstanding pivot portion 46 which is received in the recesses 42, 43 ofthe keys to pivotally mount them on the housing. A strip 48 of bearingmaterial such as polyethylene of substantially U-shaped cross-section,isdisposed over the top of the pivot portion to reduce friction andnoise during pivoting.

The key 24 can pivot up and down within a limited range. A stop 52mounted on a bracket 54 that is attached to the organ housing, lieswithin the front portion 28 of the key. When the key is depressed orreleased to move up, it hits the stop 52, which is constructed ofelastomeric material and shaped to provide a minimum of noise.

The use of the elongated bar 46 that extends laterally across the organhousing allows the keys to be easily installed. Such installation isaccomplished by engaging the front portion of each key with the stop 52,as shown in FIG. 4A. Such installation may be compared with an oftenused procedure wherein each key has a hole in it, and a round shaft mustbe projected through all of the holes of the keys in order to mount themon the organ.

It may be noted that the recesses 42 and 43 in the key are of differentshape, one recess 43 being rounded and the other 42 having a straightinner wall 42I. The reason for this is to prevent binding in spite ofmoderate dimensional variations in the parts. The recess 43 is roundedto resist forward and rearward motion on the bearing strip 48. The flatbearing-engaging wall 421 of the other recess is at the same elevation,but it does not resistforward and rearward motion. Thus, the recess 42does not act together with recess 43 to fix the angle A between the sideof the key and the side of the bearing 48. The stop 52 at the front ofthe key fixes the position of the key front, and acts together with therounded recess 43 to fix the angle A between the key and bearing(generally A is about 90).

The key 24 is biased towards the position shown in FIG. 2, by aresilient strip switch member 56 which is constructed of electricallyconductive material. The strip 55 has a rearward end 58 which is mountedby a spacer 60 on the organ housing, and which has a forward end 61 thatis free to bend up and down. The forward end 61 is split into threeparts, including a pair of side parts 62, 64 which are bent downwardlyto press against the rearward end portion 28 of the lever, and a centralpart 66 whose outer end forms the electrical contact 32. The parts 62,64 supply the biasing forces which maintain the key 24 in its usualposition prior to depression by a musician. When a musician depressesthe key 24, the rearward end 28 thereof moves the parts 62, 64 of thestrip 56 upwardly. This causes the central part 66 to move upwardly andbring the contact 32 against another contact 30. The strip 56 iselectrically connected to one conductor of the tone generator 16 whilethe contact 30 is connected to the amplifier 20, so that when thecontacts 30, 32 touch one another a tone is sounded. The contact 30 is aportion of a sheet 70 of electrically conductive material which isconnected to the amplifier 20.

In addition to pivotally mounting the keys 24 and preventing theirremoval by outward movement, it is necessary to space the keys a slightdistance from each other along the width of the keyboard 12. Suchspacing is desirable so that the side walls of the keys do not rubagainst one another in a manner that would prevent smooth pivoting.Although it would be possible to provide separate spacers mounted on thehousing, this would necessitate the production and mounting of manyadditional members, which would increase the cost of the organ. In orderto simplify the spacing of the keys, one side wall 36 of each key isprovided with ribs or protuberances 72, 74 that are molded thereon at alocation near the recess 42 where the key is pivotally mounted on thepivot portion 46 of the bar 44. The protuberances space the keys fromone another to prevent rubbing. Of course, the protuberances may rub onthe side wall of the next key, but only a minimal frictional torque iscreated because of the close location of the protuberances to the axisof pivoting.

The housing and keys 24 are constructed so that there is a smallclearance such as five thousanths inch between the protuberances 72, 74of each key and the side wall of the next key, to prevent binding. If alarge number of keys, such as 50, were mounted so that only the firstand fiftieth key were restrained from sideward shifting, then theaccumulated clearances might allow for a large shifting in the positionof individual keys. For example, a five thousanths inch clearance foreach of keys might allow a key to shift by one-quarter inch if all keyswere pushed to one side. To prevent such a large shifting, spacerfingers 76 are provided between groups of keys. As shown in FIG. 5, aspacer finger 76 is provided between every 12 keys 24 along thekeyboard. The fingers 76 are portions of a spacer strip 78 that is fixedto the housing 10. For a clearance such as five thousanths inch betweenkeys, the maximum amount of shifting of any key is equal to 12 of suchclearances or sixty thousanths'inch. This amount of shifting is smallenough that it is not readily noticed and does not affect operation ofthe keyboard. Of course, the spacer fingers can be located between anydesired number of keys, but the larger the number, the smaller thenumber of spacer fingers required, and the more economical theconstruction of the organ.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the details of construction of the button section 14of the organ. To simplify the construction, a bus plate or sheet 80 isprovided which is constructed of a resilient electrically conductivematerial such as beryllium copper. A circuit board sheet 82 ispositioned below the bus sheet 80 and is spaced from the bus sheet byspacer rods 84. The bus sheet 80 has many tabs 86 formed therein whichare bent to an upward incline. The circuit board 82 has many conductivestrips 88, each of which has a contact spot 90 located below one of thetabs 86. When a tab 86 is depressed, it contacts a contact spot 90 toconnect one of the conductive strips 88 to the bus sheet 80. Each of theconductive strips 88 is connected to a different output terminal of thechord generator 18. The bus sheet is connected to the common amplifier20 whose output is delivered to the loudspeaker for generating audiblesounds. i

A cover 92, shown in FIG. 7, extends over the bus sheet 80 and supportspush buttons 94. Each push button 94 has a lower end 96 which restsagainst a tab 86 of the bus sheet and an upper end 98 that can bedepressed by the finger of the musician. When a musician depresses thebutton 94, the button depresses the tab 86 so that the tab contacts acontact spot of the circuit board to cause a chord or the like to beplayed. Each of the buttons 94 has a skirt 100 that is held in a guide102 of the cover to slidably guide the button in up and down movement.The spring force of the tab 86 is utilized to urge the button 94upwardly until the skirt 100 hits a top wall of the cover. Thiseliminates the need for a separate spring to upwardly bias each of thebuttons. It may be noted that the two rows of tabs near the rearward end104 of the bus sheet are designed 'to be operated by rocker arms.

Thus, the invention provides an organ switching arrangement which issimple and easy to install, to enable the production of reliable organsat low cost. The organ utilizes keys that are mounted by merelyinserting them and dropping them onto a pivot bar. Fingers are providedbetween groups of keys to prevent large lateral shifts due toaccumulation of clearances. The keys are biased towards their normalposition by strips of electrically conductive material which serve tomake and break electrical contact when the keys are operated. The buttonsection of the organ utilizes a bus sheet with tabs that provide for asimplified switching arrangement and which eliminate the need for manysprings to upwardly bias the push buttons.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described andillustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variationsmay readily occur to those skilled in the art and, consequently, it isintended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications andequivalents.

What is claimed is:

1. An organ keyboard comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of keys;

means for pivotally mounting said keys on said housing so that said keysare arranged in a row, said means constructed to permit said keys toslide along their axis of pivoting; and

a plurality of locating fingers mounted on said housing at fixedpositions along said row of keys, each finger located between a pair ofkeys and said fingers spaced from each other so that a plurality of keyslie between adjacent fingers, and each finger having a width less thanone-half the width of any of said keys so that said keys appear toextend in a continuous row.

2. An organ keyboard comprising:

a housing having forward and rearward portions;

an elongated bar mounted on said housing to extend laterally thereon,said bar having upstanding pivot portions; and

a plurality of elongated keys, each having an upper surface with aforward depressing portion for receiving manually depressing forces anda lower surface, each of said keys having a pair of side walls withrecesses in their lower surfaces at a location forward of saiddepressing portion, the recess in one side wall being rounded to resistforward and rearward movement relative to said pivot portion, and therecess in the other side wall having a substantially straight inner wallto permit forward and rearward movement relative to said pivot portion,said pivot portion extending into said recesses to pivotally mount saidkeys on said housing.

3. An organ keyboard comprising:

a housing having forward and rearward portions;

an elongated bar mounted on said housing to extend laterally thereon,said bar having upstanding pivot portions;

a plurality of elongated keys, each having an upper surface with aforward depressing portion for receiving manually depressing forces anda lower surface, each of said keys having at least one recess in itslower surface at a location rearward of said depressing portion, saidupstanding pivot portion extending into said recesses of said keys topivotally mount them on said housing;

a plurality of electrically conductive switch members mounted on saidhousing; and

contact means spaced above said switch to contact them when said keysare depressed;

each of said switch members including a strip of resilient electricallyconductive material with a rearward end fixed to said housing and aforward end disposed over a rearward portion of one of said keys, saidforward portion of said strip being split to form a first arm which isbiased against a rearward portion of said key and a second arm spacedabove said first arm and below said contact means for deflecting againstsaid contact means when said first arm is raised by said key.

4. An organ keyboard comprising:

a housing having forward and rearward portions;

an elongated pivot member mounted on said housing to extend laterallythereon;

a plurality of elongated keys, each having a forward depressing portionfor receiving manually depressing forces and a rearward portionpivotally mounted on said pivot member;

a plurality of resilient members mounted on said housing; and

contact means spaced above said switch members;

each of said resilient members including a strip of resilient materialwith a rearward end fixed to said housing and a forward end disposedover a rearward portion of one of said keys, said forward portion ofsaid strip being split to form a first arm which is biased against arearward portion of said key and a second arm spaced above said firstarm and below said contact means for deflecting towards said contactmeans when said first arm is raised by said key.

5. The organ keyboard described in claim 4 wherein:

said forward portion of said strip is split into three arms, includingsaid first and second arms and also including a third arm, said secondarm being located between said first and third arms, and said first andthird arms both biased against a rearward portion of the key.

1. An organ keyboard comprising: a housing; a plurality of keys; meansfor pivotally mounting said keys on said housing so that said keys arearranged in a row, said means constructed to permit said keys to slidealong their axis of pivoting; and a plurality of locating fingersmounted on said housing at fixed positions along said row of keys, eachfinger located between a pair of keys and said fingers spaced from eachother so that a plurality of keys lie between adjacent fingers, and eachfinger having a width less than one-half the width of any of said keysso that said keys appear to extend in a continuous row.
 2. An organkeyboard comprising: a housing having forward and rearward portions; anelongated bar mounted on said housing to extend laterally thereon, saidbar having upstanding pivot portions; and a plurality of elongated keys,each having an upper surface with a forward depressing portion forreceiving manually depressing forces and a lower surface, each of saidkeys having a pair of side walls with recesses in their lower surfacesat a location forward of said depressing portion, the recess in one sidewall being rounded to resist forward and rearward movement relative tosaid pivot portion, and the recess in the other side wall having asubstantially straight inner wall to permit forward and rearwardmovement relative to said pivot portion, said pivot portion extendinginto said recesses to pivotally mount said keys on said housing.
 3. Anorgan keyboard comprising: a housing having forward and rearwardportions; an elongated bar mounted on said housing to extend laterallythereon, said bar having upstanding pivot portions; a plurality ofelongated keys, each having an upper surface with a forward depressingportion for receiving manually depressing forces and a lower surface,each of said keys having at least one recess in its lower surface at alocation rearward of said depressing portion, said upstanding pivotportion extending into said recesses of said keys to pivotally mountthem on said housing; a plurality of electrically conductive switchmembers mounted on said housing; and contact means spaced above saidswitch to contact them when said keys are depressed; each of said switchmembers including a strip of resilient electrically conductive materialwith a rearward end fixed to said housing and a forward end disposedover a rearward portion of one of said keys, said forward portion ofsaid strip being split to form a first arm which is biased against arearward portion of said key and a second arm spaced above said firstarm and below said contact means for deflecting against said contactmeans when said first arm is raised by said key.
 4. An organ keyboardcomprising: a housing having forward and rearward portions; an elongatedpivot member mounted on said housing to extend laterally thereon; aplurality of elongated keys, each having a forward depressing portionfor receiving manually depressing forces and a rearward portionpivotally mounted on said pivot member; a plurality of resilient membersmounted on said housing; and contact means spaced above said switchmembers; each of said resilient members including a strip of resilientmaterial with a rearward end fixed to said housing and a forward enddisposed over a rearward portion of one of said keys, said forwardportion of said strip being split to form a first arm which is biasedagainst a rearward portion of said key and a second arm spaced abovesaid first arm and below said contact means for deflecting towards saidcontact means when said first arm is raised by said key.
 5. The organkeyboard described in claim 4 wherein: said forward portion of saidstrip is split into three arms, including said first and second arms andalso including a third arm, said second arm being located between saidfirst and third arms, and said first and third arms both biased againsta rEarward portion of the key.